Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve is one of the best places to explore on a Uganda tour. This wildlife reserve is a hidden gem of its own and is located in Western Uganda. Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve was created in 1980 and covers an area of 87 sq. km, hosting a wide range of wildlife. It was officially declared a Wildlife Reserve in 2002.
Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve lies between the Blue Mountains of the Congo and Lake Albert. The reserve is surrounded by Kyangwali, Kabwoya, and Buseruka. It is strategically located in the region with breathtakingly spectacular views of Lake Albert and the surrounding areas.
In 1963, Kabwoya was set aside primarily for conservation purposes. A section of it was declared a Controlled Hunting Area. It represented a section of the 227km Kaiso-Tonya Controlled Hunting. By then, this hunting area served as a migration route on the Eastern Lake Albert shores between Toro Reserve and Murchison Falls National Game Park. Huge herds of the Defassa waterbucks, Jackson’s hartebeests, buffaloes, and Uganda Kobs had a connection with the Kaiso-Tonya.
The majority of the wildlife disappeared due to poaching practices in the area, especially following the long civil war. Other animals dispersed to other locations, considering the competition created by cattle keepers. Kabwoya is comprised of 2 zones, and they are separated by the Hohwa River near Budongo Forest.
Wildlife to explore in Kabwoya
Unlike before, Kabwoya is currently experiencing a steady increase in wildlife population. The diverse wildlife to encounter in this reserve includes warthogs, Uganda Kobs, Defassa waterbucks, common duikers, Jackson’s hartebeests, oribis, giant forest hogs, hippos, Anubis baboons, and more. Other primates include vervet monkeys, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys. Most of the primates reside in the riparian forests located on the Hohwa and Waambabya Rivers.
Bird species
Kabwoya is endowed with a total of about 400 species of birds. Majority of these birds comprise of Albertine rift endemics making it a special birding site to explore on Uganda birding expeditions. The diverse birds in Kabwoya reside in the varying habitats. The birds to find in this wildlife reserve include Rwenzori apalis, red-faced woodland warblers, sun birds, swamp warblers, handsome francolins, pied kingfishers, grey parrots, gray-winged robin-chat, plain-backed pipit, African pied wagtail, Western violet-backed sunbird, rufous-tailed scrub-robin, spectacled weaver, red-billed quelea, vitelline masked-weavers, black bishops, square-tailed nightjars, black cuckoos, African swift, and spur-winged lapwing.
The reserve is also most popular for birds such as Kittlitz’s plovers, African crake, western banded snake-eagle, African dwarf kingfishers, African harrier-hawks, black-billed barbets, gray kestrel, yellow-billed egret, cinnamon-chested bee-eaters, hammerkop, flappet lark, dark chanting-goshawk, red-throated bee-eaters, black sawwing, African palm swift, common waxbills, black-lored babbler, bronze manikin, swamp flycatchers, gray-hooded gull, rattling cisticola, white-throated bee-eaters, and Northern gray-headed sparrows.
What to do in Kabwoya wildlife Reserve
At Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve, expect to experience the best of game viewing, biking, and birding safaris. The detailed list of safari activities to enjoy in Kabwoya includes;
Game viewing
Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve offers amazing opportunities, and in a 4WD safari vehicle, you can embark on a guided game viewing tour that leaves lasting memories. A range of savanna wildlife can be encountered at Kabwoya, including duikers, Uganda Kobs, warthogs, bushbucks, and birds.
Birding
Kabwoya is one of the untapped birding spots in Uganda and is home to more than 400 birds. A birding tour in this reserve exposes you to birds such as white-throated bee-eaters, Northern gray-headed sparrows, rattling cisticola, gray-hooded gull, little swift, black and white Manikin, piapiac, common bulbul, little weaver birds, red-cheeked cordonbleu, red-billed fire finch, barn swallows, little-ringed plovers, blue-napped mousebirds, Senegal lapwing, laughing doves, red-eyed doves, abdim’s storks, wattled lapwing, and more.
Biking
When it comes to biking expeditions in Uganda, there are very few places to visit. Uganda biking tours in wildlife safari destinations are limited to Kabwoya Reserve, Mount Elgon National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park.
What to do in Kabwoya wildlife Reserve
Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve is open to nature lovers all year round. But the dry season favors most of the safari activities offered in the reserve. The longest dry season in Kabwoya occurs twice with the longest often recorded from June, July, August, to September. The short dry months in Kabwoya fall in the months of December to February. Visiting the reserve around these peak dry months guarantees you excellent navigation as you search for the diverse wildlife on game viewing.
Accommodation Choices in and around Kabwoya wildlife reserve
At Kabwoya, visitor accommodation options are limited. But the available ones in its proximity include Lake Albert Safari Lodge, a luxury lodge option located in the reserve. Kikonko Lodge –this is built on the top of the Albertine Rift Valley, offering spectacular views of Lake Albert.
Many hotel options are also available in Hoima city. The notable accommodation alternatives in Hoima city include Golden Castle Hotel Hoima, Miika Eco Resort Hotel, Zebi Eco Lodge, Judhongo Guesthouse Hoima, Entuiga Cottages, and Hoima Cultural Lodge.
Getting to Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve
By road, you can drive on the 82km route from Hoima City to this reserve. The road network to Kabwoya is improving, given the discovery of oil in the Albertine region.
Other places to visit, in addition to Kabwoya, include Budongo Forest. If you love primates, then Budongo Forest is a perfect addition to your Kabwoya wildlife safari. Budongo’s diverse primates include red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, pottos, black and white colobus monkeys, galagos, and more.
Birders also have what to enjoy. The key birds to identify in Budongo Forest include African harrier hawks, tambourine dove, white-thighed hornbills, common swift, dusky long-tailed cuckoos, and others. Budongo Forest offers unmatched chimpanzee trekking, birding, and chimpanzee habituation experience.
Murchison Falls National Park is the other special place to consider exploring together with Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve. Visiting Murchison is a great deal to enjoy, guided game drives to see the Big game, boat tours if you are interested in aquatic life, nature walks, hiking to the top of the falls, and whitewater rafting.
Explore the wonders of Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve, from wildlife to birds. Kabwoya is strategically set giving you the opportunity to also visit other nearby destinations like Budongo Forest Reserve and Murchison Falls National Park.